Heavy rain in Tamil Nadu causes traffic jams, schools, colleges shut in several cities

Several parts of Tamil Nadu, mainly Chennai, received heavy rain on Sunday, due to which commuters faced severe traffic jams.

Owing to incessant heavy rain, a holiday was announced for schools and colleges in various districts, including Nagapattinam, Kilvelur Taluk, Viluppuram and Cuddalore.

Similarly, a holiday was declared for schools in Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, officials said. Traffic moved at a snail’s pace, and commuters faced severe road jams. (Visuals from Velachery Main Road)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain over various districts in Tamil Nadu for the next seven days. The weather department also predicted heavy rains in isolated places in ten districts of the state for Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

Nagapattinam received overnight rain. See visuals

“Moderate rain is very likely to continue at isolated places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal area,” it said.

“Light to moderate rain with occasional intense spells acompanied with thunderstorms and lightning is very likely to continue over the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning during day time, today,” it added.

According to the weather department, strong easterly/northeasterly winds are prevailing at lower tropospheric levels with the favourable conditions for moisture incusrsion from the Bay of Bengal over Tamil Nadu leading to the current spell of rainfall over the region.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed unprecedented rains this year. Earlier, Cyclone Michaung brought heavy rains to Chennai and surrounding districts, leaving a trail of destruction. Recently, Tamil Nadu’s southern districts witnessed heavy rain due to which the state incurred heavy losses of public and private property, running into crores.